Further to my article in last month’s Together in Mission about the importance of housing as a starting point for overcoming poverty and disadvantage, I’d like to focus specifically on how we are supporting clients with a disability to find a home and enjoy independent living.
These clients might be moving from a parent or guardian’s home into their own place. They might be coming to the end of their current home’s lease or are simply unhappy in their current situation. In some cases, they are being discharged from a hospital or facility and have nowhere to live.
This can be a stressful time for our clients. They often want to be close to their work, shops, or another support network. Some of our younger clients need a home close to their school. And of course if a client is in a wheelchair, they’ll need a home that is modified and allows easy access. Finding a home that meets these requirements, and is available, can be a long process. Sometimes temporary accommodation must be found until a long-term solution is identified.
Transitional Housing is a one of Baptist Care SA’s unique services. In emergency situations, Baptist Care SA will find a temporary home for up to 90 days until a more permanent solution is found for a client.
Some of Baptist Care SA’s clients have challenging behavioral difficulties that require special-build homes. Called ‘Robust Housing’, these homes are designed and built to be incredibly strong with features like shatter proof windows and thicker walls, for the protection of the clients and the support workers who are with them 24/7.
Baptist Care SA’s Disability Housing Strategy includes the building of up to nine new Robust Homes in the next 12 to 18 months to help meet our clients’ needs. We are committed to finding ways to help our clients have the best life possible.
Baptist Care SA is well supported by a small number of Missional Housing Partners. These partnerships take the form of sub-market returns on properties that Baptist Care SA houses clients in, who otherwise face a higher risk of homelessness. We are open to exploring other ways that the Baptist movement can support housing options for those we serve.
If you’d like to know more about our disability housing, please contact our Client Engagement Team on 8273 7190 or email ndis@baptistcaresa.org.au.
Michael Hynes
Acting CEO
